Latest news with #Neil
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lottery winners Neil and Helene inspect their first potential dream home
After winning $3.5 million, Neil and Helene inspect a luxe modern home on My Lottery Dream Home on 9Now.
The Age
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Lottery winners Neil and Helene inspect their first potential dream home
After winning $3.5 million, Neil and Helene inspect a luxe modern home on My Lottery Dream Home on 9Now.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Coatbridge political titan Sir Tom Clarke pulls no punches with reflective autobiography
Memoir 'To Be Honest... Tom Clarke: The Story of My Life' follows Sir Tom's journey from young lad born in Coatbridge to his more than three decades in politics. In typically selfless fashion Sir Tom Clarke says he "will leave it up to the readers to decide" on the impact of his much-anticipated autobiography as the former Coatbridge political titan looks back on his remarkable life. The 84-year-old has unveiled his memoir To Be Honest... Tom Clarke: The Story of My Life - and pulls no punches when reflecting on his time in politics.. Sir Tom, who was a Member of Parliament from 1982 until 2015, pays repeated tributes to his home town throughout the book, beginning with a page devoted to the line "To the people of Coatbridge - the town that forged me and that I love so well". The autobiography's infancy came when then-MP Sir Tom lost his Coatbridge, Bellshill & Chryston seat in the May 2015 general election - a difficult moment he doesn't shy away from in the book. Sir Tom explained: "The book was suggested to me the day after the 2015 election and a couple of weeks later I was in Italy, where I wrote out an agenda and planned what to write. "But I was then plagued by several knee operations - eight in total - for several years which delayed the book's publication. "I've worked hard the past few years to get it written and teamed up with editor Neil Baxter. "Neil was well know in architectural circles and is a very good writer who has penned several books. "I often saw him on TV and heard him on radio and knew he was extremely gifted. "It's not easy to get a Scottish publisher so I was blessed by teaming up with Neil because as well as being an editor, he is part of the Baxter Jardine publishing company." Sir Tom added: "The book was all originally written by me and I adapted parts with Neil. "When I finished the first draft we discussed changes which ended up improving the book and it was ready for publication in June. "The presentation is lovely and everyone involved did a brilliant job putting the book together. "I am happy with the finished product but I will leave it up to the readers to decide what they think of it." Coatbridge comic-book and movie mogul Mark Millar wrote one of the book's two prefaces - with broadcaster Bernard Ponsonby penning the other. To Be Honest... Tom Clarke: The Story of My Life follows Sir Tom's journey from young lad born in Coatbridge to his more than three decades in politics, which included championing the rights of disabled people, visiting Iran to negotiate the release of British and Irish hostages and becoming Minister of State for Film and Tourism. He also doesn't hold anything back while criticising ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, who he once called his "best friend", and former Scottish first minister Donald Dewar. Sir Tom, who was also honoured as a Papal Knight by Pope Francis in 2016, told Lanarkshire Live: "I was best friends with Tony Blair for the first 10 years in Parliament and I expected to be in his first Cabinet when he became Prime Minister. "The book goes into my thoughts on how things played out and how I felt Tony let me down badly. "But it was also important to me to reflect on things like my time as the Minister of State for Film and with the Scottish Film Council as I have always been passionate about film, which not everyone may be aware of. Sir Tom, knighted in the Queen's new year honours list in late 2020 for "public and political service"., went on to explain the choice of title for his autobiography: "I often listen to the radio in the morning and heard lots of people saying 'to be honest'. "I thought, 'why are they saying that?' Maybe they are thinking 'people won't expect me to say that'. "That's when it struck me to go with that as the title and put things on record as honestly as I can recall them. "It's also a hint at questioning the honesty of others I've had to deal with. "In the book I have said where I think I got things wrong; I've not been perfect by any means. "It's sometimes interesting to reflect back on things, and your judgement of people becomes very important." Sir Tom has worked with several charities and local organisations and made the kind-hearted decision to donate all proceeds from To Be Honest... Tom Clarke: The Story of My Life to the Moira Anderson Foundation and Coatbridge Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). He added: "After the election defeat in 2015 I was approached by the outgoing chair of Coatbridge CAB to take on the role, which I did, for six years. "I saw first hand how a lot of the bureau's manager's time was spent fundraising and when I stepped down as chair, I told them half of the profits from my book would go to them. "I planted a tree at the Moira Anderson Foundation earlier this year to mark the charity's 25th anniversary. "I told the Foundation's founder, Sandra Brown, about my book and we had a very interesting conversation as she has also written a book - and what a wonderful book it is. "It's a charity that does invaluable work and it is my pleasure to donate half of the book's proceeds to the Foundation team."
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Ryanair passenger's clever DIY hack to dodge £500 luggage fees
Dad Neil Armstrong was determined to avoid any charges when on holiday with his family so he got creative When Neil Armstrong and his family of nine were preparing to fly with a budget carrier he was worried about potential charges over luggage size restrictions. The group had booked flights with Ryanair, who are well-known for their strict policy and fees when it comes to carry-on bags. To avoid being landed with a hefty bill, the 54-year-old decided to take matters into his own hands. And armed with some cardboard and tape, he set about building his own version of the airline's sizer cage in just 15 minutes. He then measured the whole family 's hand luggage in his makeshift sizer to make sure of no pricey airport mishaps. Viral footage on social media platform Tik Tok, shows Neil hard at work creating the sizer with the exact dimensions of 40x20x25cm. The dad-of-three admitted he had to change his own hand luggage backpack after realising it didn't fit into his man made box. But he said he is no longer worried about a potential £510 fee, based on Ryanair's Euro 60 standard charge (£51). The graphic designer joked that he felt 'like a Ryanair worker' when assessing the bags but encourages other customers of the budget airline to do the same. Daughter Imogen (Immy) Armstrong, 20, posted a TikTok video of Neil constructing the box and it's since been viewed more than 200,000 times. Neil, from Maidstone, Kent, said: "The family had a bit of a snigger but they think it's a great idea. I'm proud of it. I've read that people have been charged so I wanted to be sure that our bags would fit. I didn't want to get caught out. "You can get the tape measurer out but that's not really accurate and I saw the boxes at the airport but when you're there it's too late. I thought I'd make my own and all 10 of us can get our hand luggage and make sure it fits in that. "I went and got some cardboard, followed the strict centimetre rule, stuck the cardboard together and made this box. The rest of the family only live streets away so I told them to come round when they have a minute and pop their bags in. "It's not until you mock something up that you can actually visualise it (the Ryanair measuring box). I don't want to spend my holiday spending money on a bag. I realised the bag I was going to take wasn't going to fit so I've used another one. I felt like a Ryanair worker, saying to the kids 'no that won't do. Go and get another one (bag)'. I'd encourage other people to do it too so they're not caught out." The family now feel confident they won't face any baggage charges on their upcoming flight from London Stansted to Tenerife. Imogen's TikTok video was captioned 'When your dad doesn't wanna pay Ryanair £70 so makes his own hand luggage check'. One user commented: "A new level of airport dad has been unlocked." A second said: "Honestly, great idea." A third joked: "Hey, I don't blame him! Work smarter not harder." Ryanair have been contacted for comment.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
From Prime Circle to viral stardom: Neil Breytenbach and son Jesse rock the world
Cantrel is not just another band - it is a testament to the power of connection, legacy and evolution. Image: Supplied The rock scene has a fresh heartbeat - and it's coming from a father and son duo in South Africa that's turning heads far beyond their hometown. Meet Cantrel, the explosive new band making waves on the global stage with their debut EP, 'Jump'. Made up of Pietermaritzburg-born Neil Breytenbach, the legendary keyboardist and co-songwriter from one of SA's most iconic rock bands, Prime Circle, and his equally talented son, Jesse Breytenbach, Cantrel is more than just a collaboration - it's a generational bridge that fuses experience, passion and raw talent into a sound that's both timeless and thrillingly new. 'Independent Media Lifestyle' caught up with the duo, who opened up about their sound, their relationship and the wild ride they have been on since 'Jump' dropped. A leap of sound: the story behind 'Jump' The EP's title track sets the tone for what Cantrel is all about: energy, joy and movement. ''Jump' is a high-energy, feel-good song designed to make the audience move, feel happy and jump for joy,' said Neil. 'It's our way of connecting instantly with listeners - whether they are in the front row at a gig or blasting it through headphones.' It's that infectious spirit that makes "Jump" feel like a sonic celebration - something the world could use a little more of right now. Viral success: "Walls" hits over a million views Their track 'Walls' is resonating worldwide, and the proof is in the numbers: the song recently blew up on TikTok, racking up over a million views. 'We are blown away,' Neil admitted. 'We had no idea it would go viral like this. But we have been putting out good energy, manifesting positivity and success. I guess the universe was listening. And honestly, this feels like just the beginning.' It's a defining moment for any artist - watching strangers across the globe sing your lyrics and vibe with your story. Fresh yet familiar: a sound that bridges eras So what exactly is the Cantrel sound? According to Jesse, it's a dynamic fusion of old-school rock grit with modern flair. 'Our sound is high-energy and feel-good - something that just makes you want to move,' he said. 'Bands like Limp Bizkit, Nirvana and Seether influence us. We bring that recognisable rock edge and blend it with contemporary sounds.' They have also mastered the art of versatility. While their mainstage gigs are electric and full of swagger, Cantrel also strips it down for acoustic sessions that offer a more personal, intimate experience. From Prime Circle to Cantrel: Neil on creating with family For Neil, collaborating with his son is a completely different kind of musical chemistry than what he is known for with Prime Circle. 'Every band has its own energy. With Cantrel, it is just the two of us. It is raw, unfiltered, emotional and focused. With Prime Circle, we are a full band of five, which brings our own depth. "But this? This is personal. Cantrel is what happens when Nirvana and Limp Bizkit have a baby - and I love it.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Cantrel is not just another band - it is a testament to the power of connection, legacy and evolution. Image: Supplied A new generation's take on rock Jesse represents a fresh wave of rockers redefining the genre without losing its soul. 'A lot of modern rock leans on heavy production and electronic layering,' he explained. 'But we want to keep it real - a massive live sound that still holds on to that gritty, iconic '90s feel. It is about blending the new with the old in a way that still hits hard.' It is this approach that gives Cantrel an edge - staying competitive without compromising the heart of rock 'n roll. Family ties, on and off stage One of the most compelling aspects of Cantrel is their dynamic as a father-son duo. While many would shy away from mixing business and family, for Neil and Jesse, it has been nothing short of joyful. 'We have a fun, respectful relationship, and the creative process flows well,' Jesse said. 'There have not been any clashes because we know how to work with each other and avoid stepping on toes. The best part? Getting to share the stage and make memories together.' And those memories go deeper than just music. 'Before Cantrel, I would not see my dad for long periods when he was on tour with Prime Circle,' Jesse added. 'Now, we get to travel and create together. It has been a real blessing.' Born into rock: Jesse's musical upbringing For Jesse, the world of rock was not something he had to find - it was all around him from day one. 'I grew up on rock. It is in my blood,' he said. 'Watching legends, learning how they write and seeing how they are still rocking today - it has been incredibly inspiring. I never felt the need to rebel against it. I embraced it.' Proud dad, proud partner Neil beamed when asked what had surprised him most about working with his son. 'Jesse's an amazing frontman, guitarist and songwriter. His drive and focus blow me away. He sets goals and goes after them, one by one. I am so proud of him. The world is lucky to have a soul like his.' What's next: tour dates and new music on the horizon Cantrel has just wrapped up an international tour that took them across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Istanbul - but they are far from slowing down. 'We're gearing up for a South African tour running from September to December 2025,' Neil revealed. 'Follow our socials for updates - we will be dropping all the dates soon.' And there's more: a new album is already in the works and set for release in early 2026. Plus, fans in Germany can look forward to another overseas tour. 'We're excited to get back to our fans in Germany,' Jesse said. 'And we cannot wait to hit the road across SA. This is just the beginning for Cantrel.' Cantrel is not just another band - it is a testament to the power of connection, legacy and evolution. With their infectious energy, global vision and heartfelt message, they are not just making music - they are making moments. And if 'Jump' is any indication of what is to come, the world better buckle up - because Cantrel is just getting started. Lutho Pasiya recommends: rock artists worth discovering. Ross Harding: Harding is known for his blues-infused hard rock sound that seamlessly blends the soul of classic rock with the grit of '90s grunge and an alternative edge. With a vocal tone that commands attention and guitar work that ranges from searing riffs to haunting blues licks, he has quickly built a reputation for authenticity and intensity - both on stage and in the studio. The Man Motels: The Man Motels are an electrifying power trio, infusing alternative punk rock with grunge power trio. Known for their raw energy, punchy riffs and no-frills attitude, the band channels the spirit of garage punk with the angst and grit of '90s grunge. Fusing breakneck tempos with emotionally charged lyrics, they have carved out a space in the local scene for their DIY ethos and explosive live shows. The Dirty Skirts: The Dirty Skirts are an energetic indie rock outfit known for their eclectic, high-octane sound that fuses post-punk attitude with infectious hooks and a genre-blurring edge. Their take on indie rock smashes together an eclectic montage of gritty guitars, danceable rhythms and art-rock flair - creating music that is as unpredictable as it is unforgettable.
